SPOTLIGHT: Blagojevich 'revelation' may not have much impact on perception of governor

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 26, 2008 at 6:51 AM

A federal judge’s decision to out Gov. Rod Blagojevich as “Public Official A” in a corruption case may not harm him because he was already so damaged, political observers say.

Aaron Chambers

A federal judge’s decision to out Gov. Rod Blagojevich as “Public Official A” in a corruption case may not harm him because he was already so damaged, political observers say.

“I don’t think the revelation yesterday will do much practical damage to him,” said Chris Mooney, a political studies professor at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “I think the damage of this investigation has already been done, at least up to this point. The fact that everybody now knows he is Public Official A, rather than just assuming it, isn’t going to make much difference.”

Blagojevich and his aides have for months maintained that he is not the “Public Official A,” who appears repeatedly in documents describing the alleged crimes of Tony Rezko, a former top Blagojevich fundraiser and adviser.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve made it clear Blagojevich is the official. In an order pertaining to evidence prosecutors intend to offer at Rezko’s trial, which is scheduled to begin March 3, she substituted Blagojevich’s name for “Public Official A” when detailing criminal activities allegedly perpetrated by Rezko and other conspirators.

The campaign fund of “Public Official A” stood to gain a $1.5 million donation that Rezko and Stuart Levine, a former government official cooperating with the feds, allegedly tried to extort from an investment firm, according to the U.S. attorney.

The firm balked at the kickback demand and won the investment anyway, according to the feds.

Blagojevich has not been charged.

“People who thought he was a liar will be satisfied because they now have confirmation,” said David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “And people who stood by him for other issues will perhaps acknowledge that he’s got bigger legal troubles than they thought.”

Blagojevich has responded to previous developments in the wide-ranging federal probe by disappearing from public light for a few days, then re-emerging in tightly managed appearances.

Following Monday’s revelation, Blagojevich and his team have thus far stuck to that strategy. His aides have not responded to repeated requests for comment.

“The George Ryan experience suggests that once the U.S. attorney puts the light on the incumbent governor, the media will chase that public official in every venue to try to get them to expose themselves,” said Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

In the latter half of his one term, former Gov. Ryan was under growing pressure from federal investigators. After leaving office in 2003, he was convicted of public corruption and sent to prison.

“Consequently, Ryan had three years of relatively ineffectual leadership,” Whitley said. “We may now be beginning to repeat the situation where the governor may be less than fully effective because of the emerging scandal.”

Aaron Chambers can be reached at 217-782-2959 or achambers@rrstar.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.